Automobile trunk lid with ventilation means

ABSTRACT

In preferred form, a trunk compartment deck lid for an automobile having a two-way ventilation system for the passenger compartment including an opening to atmosphere through the exterior of the automobile. The deck lid has spaced interior and exterior panels with an opening to atmosphere in the exterior panel and openings to the trunk compartment in the interior panel. Ribs formed in the interior panel and offset toward the exterior panel provide a curved flow path for separating water flow from airflow and causing the water to collect in a troughlike space near the rear edge of the deck lid. The ribs extend laterally between the troughlike space and the openings in the interior panel to prevent movement of water into the trunk compartment upon deceleration of the automobile.

[22] Filed:

United States Patent Dettloft et al.

[54] AUTOMOBILE TRUNK LID WITH VENTILATION MEANS [72] Inventors: RichardL. Dettlott, Harper Woods; Victor I'Ilavaty, Royal Oak, both of Mich.

General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Sept. 9, I970 [21] Appl.No.: 70,861

[73] Assignee:

[ 1 Feb.1,1972

Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Attorney-W. S. Pettigrew, J. C. Evans andK. H. MacLean, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT In preferred form, a trunk compartment deck lid for anautomobile having a two-way ventilation system for the passengercompartment including an opening to atmosphere through the exterior ofthe automobile. The deck lid has spaced interior and exterior panelswith an opening to atmosphere in the exterior panel and openings to thetrunk compartment in the interior panel. Ribs formed in the interiorpanel and offset toward the exterior panel provide a curved flow pathfor separating water flow from airflow and causing the water to collectin a troughlike space near the rear edge of the deck lid. The ribsextend laterally between the troughlike space and the openings in theinterior panel to prevent movement of water into the trunk compartmentupon deceleration of the automobile.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures AUTOMOBILE TRUNK LID WITH VENTILATION MEANSThis invention relates to a trunk compartment deck lid having spacedinterior and exterior panels with openings therein for defining a flowpath for a ventilation system of the passenger compartment.

In automobile ventilation systems having an opening to atmosphere whichallows air to flow into the passenger compartment, provision must bemade for separating airflow from waterflow to prevent the entry of waterinto the interior of the automobile. The subject trunk compartment decklid includes spaced interior and exterior panels which define a flowpath therebetween for the ventilation system. An opening in the exteriorpanel to atmosphere and openings in the interior panel to the trunkcompartment permit air to flow between the atmosphere and the passengercompartment in response to a pressure differential therebetween. Whenthis pressure differential causes air to flow from atmosphere into thepassenger compartment, water may be drawn in with the ventilating air.The subject invention has ribs formed in the interior panel offsettoward the exterior panel to cause the ventilating air to follow acurved path from the opening to atmosphere to the openings to the trunkcompartment. This curved flow path separates water flow from airflow. Atroughlike space adjacent the deck lids rear edge collects this water.The ribs laterally extend between the openings to the trunk compartmentand the water trough to prevent the movement of water through theopenings when the automobile is decelerated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a trunk compartmentdeck lid for an automobile having spaced interior and exterior panelswith openings therethrough to the trunk compartment and to atmosphererespectively for providing airflow in either direction betweenatmosphere and the trunk compartment and with ribs in the interior panellocated about the openings to cause air to follow a curved flow pathbetween the openings for water separation and to block movement of waterforward into said trunk compartment through the openings upon automobiledeceleration.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a trunkcompartment deck lid for an automobile having spaced interior andexterior panels with openings therethrough to the trunk compartment andto atmosphere respectively for providing airflow in either directionbetween atmosphere and the trunk compartment, with a water-collectingtrough-shaped spaced adjacent the rear edge of the deck lid and withribs in the interior panel offset toward the exterior panel andextending from the opening to atmosphere, past the openings to the trunkcompartment and between the water trough and the openings to the trunkcompartment both to cause air to follow a curved flow path for waterseparation and to prevent movement of water forward into said trunkcompartment through these openings upon automobile deceleration.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of an automobile broken away to revealthe passenger and trunk compartments;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal view of the automobile trunk compartment deck lidpartially broken away;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the automobile trunk compartment decklid partially broken away; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectioned view of the deck lid taken along sectionline 44 in FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In FIG. I of the drawings, an automobile I is illustrated. It includes aforward portion 12 and a rearward portion 14. The forward portion 12includes a hood 16 which covers the automobiles internal-combustionengine (not shown). Between forward portion I2 and the rearward portionI4 is a passenger compartment IS. The passenger compartment 18 ispartially closed by a roof or top 20. a front windshield 22. a rearwindshield or bueklight 24. and a plurality ofside windows 26.

The side windows 26 can be opened at will by the automobiles occupants.A front seat 28 and a rear seat 30 are attached to the floor 31 of thepassenger compartment 18 for passenger seating.

The passenger compartment I8 is separated from the engine by a firewall32 which supports an air admission means 34 for introducing air underpressure into the passenger compartment 18. The air admission means 34includes a fan (not shown) which draws air from the atmosphere throughgrill inlets 36 and pumps the air into the passenger compartment 18. Aheater core on an evaporator core (neither visible) within the airadmission means 34 conditions the air to achieve a predeterminedtemperature and humidity within the passenger compartment I8.

The rearward portion 14 of the automobile l0 encloses a trunkcompartment 38 which is separated from the passenger compartment 18 by apackage shelf 40 and the seat back 42 of rear seat 30. The trunkcompartment 38 is partially covered by a deck lid 44 which pivots alongits front edge to provide access to the trunk compartment 38.

The deck lid 44, as best shownin FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, includes a spacedouter or exterior panel 46 and an inner or interior panel 48. Panels 46and 48 are joined together along their peripheries 49 by crimping orother suitable means. An opening 50 extends through the exterior panel46 to atmosphere in the form of multiple slots 51 across the deck lid 44as seen in FIG. 2.

Two openings 52 and 53 extend through the interior panel 48 into thetrunk compartment 38. A deck lid flow path 54 between the spaced panels46 and 48 communicates the opening 50 with openings 52 and 53. Togetherthe opening 50, the deck lid flow path 54, and the openings 52 and 53interconnect the trunk compartment 38 with the atmosphere. An opening 58beneath rear seat 30 communicates the passenger compartment 18 and thetrunk compartment 38. Thus, in the particular embodiment of theinvention shown in the drawings, an air passage extends between thepassenger compartment l8 and atmosphere through opening 58, trunkcompartment 38, openings 52 and 53, the deck lid flow path 54 andopening 50. This air passage conducts an uninhibited airflow alternatelyin either direction between the passenger compartment 18 and theatmosphere.

Uninhibited" as used in this application refers to the absence ofvalving or similar unidirectional flow control means in the air passage.It is realized that a degree of resistance to airflow is inherent in anypassage means and thus the use of the word uninhibited excludes thisconsideration.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a rib 60 in the interior panel 48 isoffset toward panel 48 and forms a wall separating the opening 50 fromthe opening 52. The top surface 61 of rib 60 is connected to theexterior panel 46 by an adhesive strip 63. The rib 60 extends rearwardlywith respect to the automobile from the opening 50 toward the rear ofthe deck lid 44 and past the opening 52. A similar rib 62 adjacent theother side of the opening 50 extends rearwardly past the opening 53 toseparate opening 50 and opening 53. A divider member 64 likewise formedin the interior panel 48 defines a curved surface 66 which causes airflowing from opening 50 to pass either to the right or to the lefttoward openings 52 and 53 respectively.

The interior panel 48 is somewhat rigidifled by the offset portions 67shown in FIG. 2. These portions 67 as well as the ribs 60 and 62 directair between the opening 50 and 52, 53. In addition, offset members 69connect the panels 46 and 48 to prevent undesirable movementtherebetween.

The opening 50 of deck lid 44 is generally located laterally centrallyto the rear of a front edge portion 68 of the deck lid 44. The frontedge portion 68, as best seen in FIG. 4, is elevated with respect to arear edge portion 70 and the interior panel 48 of the deck lid slopesdownward from the front edge to the rear edge. Water separated from anairflow through the deck lid flow path 54 naturally drains toward therear edge portion 70 where it is collected in trough-shaped spaces 72,74

on either side of the divider member 64. Outlets 76 which are normallycovered by flap valves 77 in recessed portions 79 of troughs 72 and 74drain the water from between the panels 46 and 48 to the outside of theautomobile.

The rib 60 generally extends rearwardly from opening 50 past opening 52to cause air flowing from opening 50 to open ing 52 to curve. A portion78 of the rib 60 extends laterally between the opening 52 and thewater-collecting trough 72. The portion 78 curves past the opening 52which causes air to flow around its outer end 81. in a similar manner, aportion 80 of rib 62 on the other side of the deck lid extends betweenthe trough 74 and the opening 53 to cause air to flow around its outerend 83.

Air passing from atmosphere through opening 50, the deck lid flow path54 and through openings 52, 53 must take a circular path around ribs 60or 62. The divider member 64 serves to direct air either to opening 52or opening 53. The air's change in direction causes rainwater in the airto collect in the troughs 72 or 74. Although outlets 76 are provided todrain the water, a quantity of water may collect in the troughs. Thelateral portions 78 and 80 of the ribs prevent movement of this waterforward into the trunk compartment through the openings 52 and 53 upondeceleration of the automobile 10. When the automobile is decelerated,water from the troughs is blocked by the rib portions 78, 80 and is thusprevented from entering the trunk compartment.

The opening 50 extends laterally across the automobile 10 as shown inFIG. 2. In addition, opening 50 is located on the deck lid 44 in asubstantially neutral pressure area as herein defined. The neutralpressure area is produced by airflow over the exterior surface of theautomobile 10 caused by automobile movement. For a more detailedtreatment of the two-way ventilation system including a disclosure ofthe air pressure profile on a particular moving automobile and airflowdata, reference is made to U.S. Ser. No. 28,641 tiled Apr. 15, i970 andassigned to General Motors Corporation.

When the side windows 26 of the automobile 10 are closed, positive airpressure is built up within the passenger compartment 18 by the fan ofthe air admission means 34 which pumps air into the passengercompartment. The positive pressure level within the passengercompartment 18 caused by this introduction of air by a fan is partiallydependent on vehicle speed. The present ventilation system reduces highpositive pressure levels in the passenger compartment by an exhaust flowthrough the opening 58 into the trunk compartment 38, through openings52 and 53, through the deck lid flow path 54 and the opening 50 toatmosphere. Because the opening 50 is located in a neutral pressure areaon the automobile body, the positive pressure within passengercompartment 18 causes air to flow from the passenger compartment 18 toatmosphere.

it has been observed that when a side window 26 of the automobile 10 ispartially opened resultant airflow out the opened window tends toproduce a negative pressure level in the passenger compartment 18 withrespect to atmospheric pressure. The present ventilation system reducesnegative pressure levels by a backflow of air from the atmosphere,through the opening 50, through the deck lid flow path 54, throughopenings 52 and 53, through trunk compartment 38, and through theopening 58 into the passenger compartment 18. Because the opening 50 islocated in a neutral pressure area on the automobile body, the negativepressure in the passenger compartment 18 causes air to flow from theatmosphere into the passenger compartment 18. This maintains thepassenger compartment 18 at a pressure level more positive than wouldotherwise be the case.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein describedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmay be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An automobile having a ventilation system comprising: means defininga passenger compartment including a side window that may be opened orclosed at will; air admission means for introducing air under pressureinto the forward portion of said automobile passenger compartment; atrunk compartment rearward of said passenger compartment and dividedtherefrom by a passenger seat; a trunk compartment deck lid coveringsaid trunk compartment and having spaced interior and exterior panelswhich define a deck lid flow path therebetween; passageway'means fromthe interior to the exterior including said deck lid flow path fordefining an air passage effective to conduct a substantially uninhibitedflow of air in either direction between the atmosphere and saidpassenger compartment; said passage means including an opening to theatmosphere in a neutral pressure area on the deck lid as produced byairflow over said exterior panel during automobile movement; saidpassage means including an opening in said interior panel of said decklid to said trunk compartment; said passage means further opening intosaid passenger compartment from said trunk compartment beneath the rearpassenger seat whereby with said side window open air flows from bothsaid air admission means and said passage into the passenger compartmentand out said side window; means between said interior and exteriorpanels of the deck lid for separating airflow from waterflow; meansadjacent the rear edge of said deck lid for collecting separated waterbetween said panels; said separation means including a rib in saidinterior panel extending rearwardly from said exterior panel opening,past said interior panel opening and laterally between said interiorpanel opening and said water-collecting means to provide a curved flowpath for separating waterflow from airflow and to prevent the forwardmovement of water through said interior panel opening upon decelerationof said automobile.

2. in a ventilation system for an automobile passenger compartment ofthe type having an uninhibited airflow path between the atmosphere andsaid passenger compartment, an opening to atmosphere in the exterior ofthe automobile located in a neutral pressure area as produced by airflowduring automobile movement to allow alternate two-way airflow into orfrom said passenger compartment in response to a pressure differentialbetween atmosphere and the passenger compartment, the improvementcomprising: a trunk compartment rearwardly of said passengercompartment; a trunk compartment deck lid covering said trunkcompartment and having spaced interior and exterior panels which definea deck lid flow path therebetween', said interior panel sloping downwardfrom a front edge portion to a rear edge portion of said deck lid; saidopening to atmosphere being through said exterior panel of said deck lidand rearward of said front edge portion; an opening to said trunkcompartment through said interior pane] of said deck lid; awater-collecting trough formed along the rear edge portion of the decklid between said panels at an elevation below said openings; waterseparation means including a rib formed in said interior panel andoffset toward said exterior panel of said deck lid for providing acurved airflow path between said panel openings to separate waterflowfrom airflow; said rib extending rearwardly from said opening toatmosphere, past said opening to said trunk compartment and extendinglaterally between said water-collecting trough and said opening to saidtrunk compartment to prevent the movement of water from said troughthrough said opening and into said trunk compartment upon decelerationof said automobile.

3. in a ventilation system for an automobile passenger compartment ofthe type having an uninhibited airflow path between the atmosphere andsaid passenger compartment, an opening to atmosphere in the exterior ofthe automobile located in a neutral pressure area as produced by theairflow during automobile movement to allow alternate two-way airflowinto or from said passenger compartment in response to a pressuredifferential between atmosphere and the passenger compartment, theimprovement comprising: a trunk compartment rearwardly of said passengercompartment, a trunk compartment deck lid covering said trunkcompartment and having spaced interior and exterior panels which definea deck lid flow path therebetween; said interior panel sloping downwardfrom a front edge portion to a rear edge portion of said deck lid; saidopening to atmosphere being through said exterior panel of said deck lidand laterally centrally located on said deck lid rearward of said frontedge portion; dual openings to said trunk compartment extending throughsaid interior panel of said deck lid and located laterally to eitherside of said opening to atmosphere; a water-collecting trough formedalong the rear edge portion of said deck lid between said panels at anelevation below said openings; water separation means including ribsformed in said interior panel and offset toward said exterior panel ofsaid deck lid for providing two curved airflow paths between saidopening to atmosphere and said openings to said trunk compartment toseparate water flow from airflow; said ribs extending rearwardly fromeither side of said opening to atmosphere, past said openings to saidtrunk compartment and extending laterally between said water-collectingtrough and said openings to said trunk compartment to prevent themovement of water from said trough through said openings and into saidtrunk compartment upon deceleration of said automobile.

4. in a ventilation system for an automobile passenger compartment ofthe type having an uninhibited airflow path between the atmosphere andsaid passenger compartment, an opening to atmosphere in the exterior ofthe automobile located in a neutral pressure area as produced by airflowduring automobile movement to allow alternate two-way airflow into orfrom said passenger compartment in response to a pressure differentialbetween atmosphere and the passenger compartment, the improvementcomprising: a trunk compartment rearwardly of said passengercompartment; a trunk compartment deck lid covering said trunkcompartment and having spaced interior and exterior panels which definea deck lid flow path therebetween; said interior panel sloping downwardfrom a front edge portion to a rear edge portion of said deck lid; saidopening to atmosphere being through said exterior panel of said deck lidand laterally centrally located on said deck lid rearward of said frontedge portion; dual openings to said trunk compartment extending throughsaid interior panel of said deck lid and located laterally to eitherside of said opening to atmosphere; the ratio of the area of saidopenings to the trunk compartment to the area of said opening toatmosphere being greater than l.4; a water-collecting trough formedalong the rear edge portion of said deck lid between said panels at anelevation below said openings; water separation means including ribsformed in said interior panel and offset toward said exterior panel ofsaid deck lid for providing two curved airflow paths between saidopening to atmosphere and said openings to said trunk compartment toseparate waterflow from airflow; said ribs extending rearwardly fromeither side of said opening to atmosphere, past said openings to saidtrunk compartment and extending laterally between said water-collectingtrough and said openings to said trunk compartment to prevent themovement of water from said trough through said openings and into saidtrunk compartment upon deceleration of said automobile.

1. An automobile having a ventilation system comprising: means defininga passenger compartment including a side window that may be opened orclosed at will; air admission means for introducing air under pressureinto the forward portion of said automobile passenger compartment; atrunk compartment rearward of said passenger compartment and dividedtherefrom by a passenger seat; a trunk compartment deck lid coveringsaid trunk compartment and having spaced interior and exterior panelswhich define a deck lid flow path therebetween; passageway means fromthe interior to the exterior including said deck lid flow path fordefining an air passage effective to conduct a substantially uninhibitedflow of air in either direction between the atmosphere and saidpassenger compartment; said passage means including an opening to theatmosphere in a neutral pressure area on the deck lid as produced byairflow over said exterior panel during automobile movement; saidpassage means including an opening in said interior panel of said decklid to said trunk compartment; said passage means further opening intosaid passenger compartment from said trunk compartment beneath the rearpassenger seat whereby with said side window open air flows from bothsaid air admission means and said passage into the passenger compartmentand out said side window; means between said interior and exteriorpanels of the deck lid for separating airflow from waterflow; meansadjacent the rear edge of said deck lid for collecting separated waterbetween said panels; said separation means including a rib in saidinterior panel extending rearwardly from said exterior panel opening,past said interior panel opening and laterally between said interiorpanel opening and said water-collecting means to provide a curved flowpath for separating waterflow from airflow and to prevent the forwardmovement of water through said interior panel opening upon decelerationof said automobile.
 2. In a ventilation system for an automobilepassenger compartment of the type having an uninhibited airflow pathbetween the atmosphere and said passenger compartment, an opening toatmosphere in the exterior of the automobile located in a neutralpressure area as produced by airflow during automobile movement to allowalternate two-way airflow into or from said passenger coMpartment inresponse to a pressure differential between atmosphere and the passengercompartment, the improvement comprising: a trunk compartment rearwardlyof said passenger compartment; a trunk compartment deck lid coveringsaid trunk compartment and having spaced interior and exterior panelswhich define a deck lid flow path therebetween; said interior panelsloping downward from a front edge portion to a rear edge portion ofsaid deck lid; said opening to atmosphere being through said exteriorpanel of said deck lid and rearward of said front edge portion; anopening to said trunk compartment through said interior panel of saiddeck lid; a water-collecting trough formed along the rear edge portionof the deck lid between said panels at an elevation below said openings;water separation means including a rib formed in said interior panel andoffset toward said exterior panel of said deck lid for providing acurved airflow path between said panel openings to separate waterflowfrom airflow; said rib extending rearwardly from said opening toatmosphere, past said opening to said trunk compartment and extendinglaterally between said water-collecting trough and said opening to saidtrunk compartment to prevent the movement of water from said troughthrough said opening and into said trunk compartment upon decelerationof said automobile.
 3. In a ventilation system for an automobilepassenger compartment of the type having an uninhibited airflow pathbetween the atmosphere and said passenger compartment, an opening toatmosphere in the exterior of the automobile located in a neutralpressure area as produced by the airflow during automobile movement toallow alternate two-way airflow into or from said passenger compartmentin response to a pressure differential between atmosphere and thepassenger compartment, the improvement comprising: a trunk compartmentrearwardly of said passenger compartment, a trunk compartment deck lidcovering said trunk compartment and having spaced interior and exteriorpanels which define a deck lid flow path therebetween; said interiorpanel sloping downward from a front edge portion to a rear edge portionof said deck lid; said opening to atmosphere being through said exteriorpanel of said deck lid and laterally centrally located on said deck lidrearward of said front edge portion; dual openings to said trunkcompartment extending through said interior panel of said deck lid andlocated laterally to either side of said opening to atmosphere; awater-collecting trough formed along the rear edge portion of said decklid between said panels at an elevation below said openings; waterseparation means including ribs formed in said interior panel and offsettoward said exterior panel of said deck lid for providing two curvedairflow paths between said opening to atmosphere and said openings tosaid trunk compartment to separate waterflow from airflow; said ribsextending rearwardly from either side of said opening to atmosphere,past said openings to said trunk compartment and extending laterallybetween said water-collecting trough and said openings to said trunkcompartment to prevent the movement of water from said trough throughsaid openings and into said trunk compartment upon deceleration of saidautomobile.
 4. In a ventilation system for an automobile passengercompartment of the type having an uninhibited airflow path between theatmosphere and said passenger compartment, an opening to atmosphere inthe exterior of the automobile located in a neutral pressure area asproduced by airflow during automobile movement to allow alternatetwo-way airflow into or from said passenger compartment in response to apressure differential between atmosphere and the passenger compartment,the improvement comprising: a trunk compartment rearwardly of saidpassenger compartment; a trunk compartment deck lid covering said trunkcompartment and having spaced interior and exterior panels which definea deck lid flow path therebetween; said interior panel slopiNg downwardfrom a front edge portion to a rear edge portion of said deck lid; saidopening to atmosphere being through said exterior panel of said deck lidand laterally centrally located on said deck lid rearward of said frontedge portion; dual openings to said trunk compartment extending throughsaid interior panel of said deck lid and located laterally to eitherside of said opening to atmosphere; the ratio of the area of saidopenings to the trunk compartment to the area of said opening toatmosphere being greater than 1.4; a water-collecting trough formedalong the rear edge portion of said deck lid between said panels at anelevation below said openings; water separation means including ribsformed in said interior panel and offset toward said exterior panel ofsaid deck lid for providing two curved airflow paths between saidopening to atmosphere and said openings to said trunk compartment toseparate waterflow from airflow; said ribs extending rearwardly fromeither side of said opening to atmosphere, past said openings to saidtrunk compartment and extending laterally between said water-collectingtrough and said openings to said trunk compartment to prevent themovement of water from said trough through said openings and into saidtrunk compartment upon deceleration of said automobile.